Informix Best Practices Getting Started with
Informix
Webcast – January 26, 2017By
Lester Knutsen
Lester Knutsen
2
Lester Knutsen is President of Advanced DataTools Corporation, and has been building large Data Warehouse and Business Systems using Informix Database software since 1983. Lester focuses on large database performance tuning, training and consulting. Lester is a member of the IBM Gold Consultant program and was presented with one of the Inaugural IBM Data Champion awards by IBM. Lester was one of the founders of the International Informix Users Group and the Washington Area Informix User Group.
[email protected] x102
Informix Introduction
Overview• Informix Products Overview• Informix Architecture
– Memory, CPU, Disk Requirements• Planning an Informix Install• Installing Informix• Software Directory Structure• Using Informix SQL• Informix Documentation• Informix Resources on the Web
Informix Introduction 3
Informix Products Overview
Informix Servers History
• Informix C-ISAM• Informix Standard Engine (SE)• Informix OnLine 4.x and 5.x• Informix Dynamic Server 7.x• Informix Extended Parallel Server 8.x• Informix Dynamic Server 9.x and 10.x• Current - Informix 11.x and 12.xInformix Introduction 5
Informix 12.x Editions • No Cost Editions
– IBM Informix Developer Edition– IBM Informix Innovator-C Edition
• Purchase Editions– IBM Informix Express Edition– IBM Informix Workgroup Edition– IBM Advanced Workgroup Edition– IBM Informix Advanced Developer Edition– IBM Informix Enterprise Edition– IBM Informix Advanced Enterprise Edition
Informix Introduction 6
Licensing Metrics• Processor Value Unit (PVU)• Authorized User Single Install (AUSI)• Limited Use Virtual Server (LUVS)• Limited Use Socket (LU Socket)
– Only for Informix Workgroup• Authorized User (AU)
– Only for Informix Advanced Developer
Informix Introduction 7
Connectivity/Client Products
• Informix Client Software Developer's Kit (SDK) includes– Informix ODBC– Informix ESQL – OAT
• Informix Enterprise Gateway • Informix JDBC Driver/Embedded SQL • IBM Data Server Driver (IBM Common Driver)
Informix Introduction 8
DataBlade Modules and DataBlade Developer's Kit
• Informix NAG DataBlade • Informix C-ISAM DataBlade • Informix Data Director for Web• Informix Geodetic DataBlade• Informix Image Foundation DataBlade• Informix Spatial DataBlade• Informix TimeSeries DataBlade
Informix Introduction 9
Development Tools• Informix ESQL/C• Informix 4GL • Informix SQL• Informix Genero (4J’s)• Java• PHP• Ruby on Rails• PerlInformix Introduction 10
Informix Administration Tools
• Command Line Utilities
• Open Admin Toolhttp://www.openadmintool.org/
• Server Studiohttp://serverstudio.com/
Informix Introduction 11
Open Admin Tool - OAT
Informix Introduction 12
Informix ArchitectureMemory, CPU, Disk Requirements
Informix Architecture
• SQL Client process• Server process – (oninit)• Shared Memory• Disk space – (dbspace)
Informix Introduction 14
Informix Architecture
Informix Introduction 15
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
Disk Drives
InformixShared Memory
Oninit Oninit
OninitOninit
Oninit
Oninit
Oninit Processinformix@train6:~ train6 > ps -ef | grep oninitinformix 22472 1 9 14:03 ? 00:00:03 oninit -vroot 22473 22472 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -vroot 22474 22473 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -vroot 22475 22473 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -vroot 22476 22473 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -vroot 22477 22473 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -vroot 22478 22473 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -vroot 22479 22473 0 14:03 ? 00:00:00 oninit -v
Informix Introduction 16
Oninit Process onstat –g sch
informix@train6:~ train6 > onstat -g sch
IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC6 -- On-Line -- Up 00:02:12 -- 766404 KbytesVP Scheduler Statistics:vp pid class semops busy waits spins/wait bsy lspins1 22472 cpu 141 0 0 0 2 22473 adm 0 0 0 0 3 22474 lio 4115 0 0 0 4 22475 pio 30 0 0 0 5 22476 aio 7453 0 0 0 6 22477 msc 5 0 0 0 7 22478 fifo 2 0 0 0 8 22479 soc 2 0 0 0 9 22480 aio 2890 0 0 0 10 22481 aio 187 0 0 0 11 22482 aio 113 0 0 0 12 22483 aio 55 0 0 0 13 22484 aio 58 0 0 0 14 22485 aio 41 0 0 0 15 22486 aio 32 0 0 0 16 22487 aio 29 0 0 0 17 22489 aio 22 0 0 0
Informix Introduction 17
Oninit Process - Class• CPU - Executes all user and session threads and some system threads• PIO - Handles physical log file when cooked disk space is used• LIO - Handles logical log file when cooked disk space is usedAIO -
Handles disk I/OSHM - Performs shared memory communications• TLI - Performs TLI network communications• SOC - Performs socket network communications• FIFO - Performs FIFO operaations• OPT - Handles optical disk I/O• ADM - Executes administrative threads• ADT - Executes auditing threads• MSC - Handles request for system calls
Informix Introduction 18
Informix Introduction 19
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Resident Memory Segment
Virtual Memory Segment
Message Memory Segment
Informix Shared Memory
LRU
LRU
LRU
LRU
•Control Tables•Buffers
•Dictionary cache•Working Storage•Sort Space
Informix Shared Memoryonstat –g seg
informix@train6:~ train6 > onstat -g seg
IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC6 -- On-Line -- Up 00:30:00 -- 766404 Kbytes
Segment Summary:id key addr size ovhd class blkused blkfree32769 525c4801 44000000 4911104 495784 R 1199 0 65538 525c4802 444af000 33439744 393384 V 8030 134 98307 525c4803 46493000 562749440 1 B 137390 0 131076 525c4804 67d41000 166359040 1 B 40615 0 163845 525c4805 71be8000 561152 7848 M 136 1 196614 525c4806 71c71000 8388608 99720 V 1529 519 294919 525c4807 72471000 8388608 99720 V 25 2023 Total: - - 784797696 - - 188924 2677
(* segment locked in memory)No reserve memory is allocated
Informix Introduction 20
Memory Classes
• R – Resident Memory Segment• B – Buffer Pool Segment for data• V – Virtual Memory Segment for
Working Storage• M – Message Segment for
communications between clients
Informix Introduction 21
Informix Disk Space• Dbspace – Logical container of Chunks• Chunk – Physical container
– Raw Disk – Informix direct access to disk– Cooked Disk – Informix accesses disk
through OS filesystem• Page – I/O Block: 2K, 4K, 8K, 16K• Tablespace – All pages assigned to a table • Extent – Set of contiguous pages
Informix Introduction 22
Informix Introduction 23
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page
DBSPACE
Chunk Chunk Chunk
Disk Layout - Pages, Chunks, and Dbspaces
Page Page
Informix Introduction 24
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page Page
Page Page
DBSPACE
Chunk Chunk Chunk
Disk Layout -Tables and Extents
Too many extents will slow disk access
TableOrders
TableCodes
TableProducts
Informix Dbspaceonstat -d
informix@train7:~ train1 > onstat -d
IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC6 -- On-Line -- Up 00:01:47 -- 156824 KbytesDbspacesaddress number flags fchunk nchunks pgsize flags owner name44be0028 1 0x20001 1 1 2048 N BA informix rootdbs44d101c8 2 0x20001 2 1 2048 N BA informix logdbs44d10408 3 0x20001 3 1 2048 N BA informix datadbs44d10648 4 0x2001 4 1 2048 N TBA informix tmpdbs4 active, 2047 maximumChunksaddress chunk/dbs offset size free bpages flags pathname44be0268 1 1 0 200000 132338 PO-B-- /informixchunks/train1/rootdbs45c0c028 2 2 0 1000000 909947 PO-B-- /informixchunks/train1/logdbs45c0d028 3 3 0 1000000 999947 PO-B-- /informixchunks/train1/datadbs45c33028 4 4 0 1000000 999947 PO-B-- /informixchunks/train1/tmpdbs4 active, 32766 maximum
NOTE: The values in the "size" and "free" columns for DBspace chunks aredisplayed in terms of "pgsize" of the DBspace to which they belong.
Expanded chunk capacity mode: enabled
Informix Introduction 25
Informix User Sessions
Informix Introduction 26
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
SQL Clients
Disk Drives
InformixShared Memory
Oninit Oninit
OninitOninit
Oninit
Oninit
Informix User Sessionsonstat -u
informix@train7:~ train1 > onstat -u
IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC6 -- On-Line -- Up 00:18:30 -- 156824 Kbytes
Userthreadsaddress flags sessid user tty wait tout locks nreads nwrites44cca028 ---P--D 1 informix - 0 0 0 29 11244cca8e8 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 233944ccb1a8 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 144ccba68 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 144ccc328 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 444cccbe8 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 044ccd4a8 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 044ccdd68 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 044cce628 ---P--F 0 informix - 0 0 0 0 044cceee8 ---P--- 9 informix - 0 0 0 0 044ccf7a8 ---P--B 10 informix - 0 0 0 1583 044cd0068 Y--P--D 11 informix - 45c26f30 0 0 2106 044cd0928 ---P--D 12 informix - 0 0 0 0 044cd1aa8 ---P--D 16 informix - 0 0 0 0 044cd2c28 ---P--D 17 informix - 0 0 0 2 044cd34e8 ---P--D 18 informix - 0 0 0 0 044cd3da8 ---P--D 19 informix - 0 0 0 0 044cd4668 ---P--- 31 informix - 0 0 1 347 194844cd4f28 ---P--- 30 informix - 0 0 2 335 8444cd57e8 ---P--- 29 informix - 0 0 1 6 044cd60a8 ---P--- 32 informix - 0 0 1 981 594244cd83a8 Y--P--D 77 informix - 4410bd40 0 0 0 022 active, 128 total, 28 maximum concurrent
Informix Introduction 27
Planning an Informix Install
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• What directory will the Informix Software be installed in? – /opt/informix12– /local_apps/informix12.10
• What are the name(s) of the Informix Serve? – Train1- for shared memory connections– Train1tcp – for network connections
Informix Introduction 29
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• How much memory is required and will be allocated to Informix?– BUFFERPOOL– SHMVIRTSIZE– SHMADD
Informix Introduction 30
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• How much disk space is required and will be allocated for Informix?– Rootdbs– Logical Logs– Physical Logs– Temp data space– Data space– Index space– Blob dbspace– Smart Blob dbspace
Informix Introduction 31
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• Will you use Raw or Cooked space?• Where will the space be located?• Best Practices
– Use symbolic links – /informixchunks/servername/dbchunks– Use non journaled filesystems for cooked
space– Use Ext2 filesystems for Linux
Informix Introduction 32
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• How many CPU’s will be allocated for Informix?– Traditional Best Practices is number of
physical CPU CORE-1– Current CPU CORE are fast enough to
handle 2-3 oninits per CORE
Informix Introduction 33
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• What are the protocols users will conect to Informix with?– Shared Memory– TCP Sockets– DRDA– REST
• What tcp ports will be used for network connections?
Informix Introduction 34
Planning an Informix InstallPrep Questions
• Will the Open Admin Tool OAT be installed?– Admin login– Ports
Informix Introduction 35
Installing Informix Demo
Informix Introduction 37
Software Directory Structure
Software Directory Structure
The following are some of the important directories found under $INFORMIXDIR:
• bin - Informix binaries and executable files. This directory must be included in your path.
• demo - Demonstration files and source code. Use the demo programs to copy these files to your own directory.
• etc - Informix configuration files• incl - Library files used by Informix software and compilers• msg - Error messages and text message files• release - Release notes and documentation. This contains the
latest information and updates.
Informix Introduction 39
Using Informix SQL
Connecting to InformixInformix uses four environment variables:• INFORMIXDIR
– Points to the directory where Informix products are installed.• PATH
– $INFORMIXDIR/bin must be added to the PATH for executables to be found.
• INFORMIXSERVER– Points to the name of the Informix Database Server the user will
access. • ONCONFIG
– Points to the server configuration file. This is only required when OnLine is started and for DBA functions. This is not used by end users.
Informix Introduction 41
Example Environment Variables
INFORMIXDIR=/opt/informixexport INFORMIXDIRPATH=$INFORMIXDIR/bin:$PATHexport PATHINFORMIXSERVER=train1export INFORMIXSERVERONCONFIG=onconfig.train1export ONCONFIG
Informix Introduction 42
Informix SQL Tools• Dbaccess (dbaccess)
– Part of the database engine– Includes all new features of the engine release– Does NOT include ACE Reports and Perform Forms
• INFORMIX-SQL (isql)– Separate stand-alone product – Separate purchase– Does not include all new features of current engine release– Includes ACE Report Writer– Includes Perform Form Screens
Informix Introduction 43
Dbaccess Main CommandsDBACCESS: Query-language Connection Database Table Session ExitUse SQL query language.-------------------------------------- Press CTRL-W for Help --------
• Query-Language - Use SQL query language• Connection - Connect or disconnect from a database
environment• Database - Select, create, info, drop, or close a database• Table - Create, alter, or drop a database table• Session - Retrieve information about the current DB-Access
session• Exit - Exit DBACCESS
Informix Introduction 44
Dbaccess SQLSQL: New Run Modify Use-editor Output Choose Save Info Drop ExitEnter new SQL statements using SQL editor.--------------------- stores7@train1 --------- Press CTRL-W for Help -------
• New - Create new SQL statements using the Informix built-in editor• Run - Execute SQL statement• Modify - Changes SQL statement using the Informix built-in editor• User editor - Create or modify SQL statements using selected editor• Output - Output results of SQL statement to printer, file or pipe• Choose - Select SQL statements saved in current directory• Save - Save current SQL statement in a file in the current directory• Info - Display information about tables in the database• Drop - Delete SQL files in current directory
Informix Introduction 45
Dbaccess SQL Built-in Editor
• ESC - Done editing, return to menu• CTRL-A - Toggle between Typeover/Insert
mode• CTRL-R - Redraw screen• CTRL-X - Delete current character • CTRL-D - Delete rest of current line
Informix Introduction 46
Dbaccess Command Line• dbaccess <database name>
• Starts dbaccess using selected database• dbaccess stores7
• dbaccess -<first letter of menu option>• Starts dbaccess in select menu options.
• dbaccess <database name> -<first letter of menu>
• Starts dbaccess using selected database in the selected menu option
• dbaccess stores7 -qi• This starts dbaccess using the stores7 database and goes into
the Query, Info menu option.Informix Introduction 47
Dbaccess Command Line• dbaccess <database name> <sql script name>
• Executes SQL script using the selected database• dbaccess - -
• Starts dbaccess, SQL in interactive option with no menus. This is useful for writing shell scripts
• dbaccess -v• Displays version number and serial number
• dbaccess -e <database> <script>• Echo sql statements as they are executed
• dbaccess -ansi• Provides warnings when Informix extensions to ANSI SQL are
used
Informix Introduction 48
Displaying Error Messages -finderr
Usage: finderr msgnum [msgnum2 ...]• finderr searches the file of error message explanations
distributed with Informix products and copies the text of one or more error messages to the standard output.
• If an unsigned number is given, a negative sign is assumed.• Examples:
– finderr 327 (looks for message number -327)– finderr -327 (looks for message number -327)– finderr +1234 (looks for message number 1234) – finderr -233 107 113 134 143 144 +1541 | more
Informix Introduction 49
Informix Introduction 50
Informix Command Line Utilities
• ONSTAT - shows shared memory and server statistics• ONCHECK - checks and repairs disk space• ONMODE - changes Server's operating mode• ONLOG - logical log debugging tool• ONINIT - initialize and start up the database server• ONSPACES - configure dbspaces and chunks• ONPARAMS - configure logs• ONTAPE - backup and restore utility• ONLOAD - loads databases and tables• ONUNLOAD - unloads databases and tables
Informix Documentation
Documentation• All documentation is available online at:http://www.ibm.com/software/data/informix/pubs/library/http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSGU8G/welcomeIfxServers.html
• IBM Informix Dynamic Server v12.10 Information Center
http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSGU8G_12.1.0/com.ibm.welcome.doc/welcome.htm
Informix Introduction 52
Key Administrator Manuals• Getting Started with Informix Dynamic Server
– This manual provides an overview of the Informix database server and SQL API environment, summarizes important features of Informix Dynamic Server, and provides a road map to help you use the documentation set.
• Administrator's Guide for Informix Dynamic Server– This manual is both a user guide and a reference manual to the features of Informix
Dynamic Server. It is intended to help you understand, configure, and use your database server.
• Informix Administrator's Reference– This manual provides reference material for Informix Dynamic Server. It provides the
syntax of database server utilities such as onmode and onstat, and comprehensive descriptions of configuration parameters, the sysmasters tables, and logical-log records.
• Informix Backup and Restore Guide– This manual explains the concepts and methods that you need to understand when
you use the ON-Bar utility to back up and restore data. • Performance Guide for Informix Dynamic Server
– This guide provides information on how to configure and operate Dynamic Server to achieve optimum performance.
Informix Introduction 53
Key SQL Manuals• Informix Guide to Database Design and Implementation
– This manual provides information to help you design, implement, and manage your Informix databases. It includes data models that illustrate different approaches to database design and shows you how to use Structured Query Language (SQL) to implement and manage your databases.
• Informix Guide to SQL: Reference– This guide provides information on the following topics: Informix databases, data types,
system catalog tables, environment variables, and the stores_demo demonstration database. It also contains a glossary.
• Informix Guide to SQL: Syntax– This guide provides detailed descriptions of the syntax for all Informix SQL and SPL
statements. • Informix Guide to SQL: Tutorial
– This guide provides a tutorial on SQL, as implemented by Informix products. It describes the basic ideas and terms that are used when you work with a relational database.
Informix Introduction 54
Informix Resources on the Web
Informix Resources from IBM
• Informix Documentation http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSGU8G_12.1.0/com.ibm.welcome.doc/welcome.htm
• Compare the Informix Version 12 editions by Carlton Doe, IBM http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/techarticle/dm-0801doe/
• The Informix and IoT Roadshows by Carlton Doe, IBM https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/wikis/home?lang=en#!/wiki/North%20America%20Informix%20Events
Informix Introduction 56
Informix Resources - IIUG
• The International Informix User Group– http://www.iiug.org– Membership is FREE
• IIUG 2017 – The Premier Informix Event April 23 – 27, 2017 – http://iiug2017.org
Informix Introduction 57
Informix Resources
• Advanced DataTools Tech Info– http://advancedatatools.com/TechInfo/index.html
• Advanced DataTools Webcast– http://advancedatatools.com/Informix/Webcasts.html
Informix Introduction 58
Next Webcast Informix Best Practices
• Informix Configuration, ONCONFIG, CPUs, and Memory– Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 2:00pm EST
• Disks and Database Space Layout– Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 2:00pm EST
• Backup, Recovery, and High Availability Disaster Recovery– Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 2:00pm EST
Please register for each webcast here at: http://advancedatatools.com/Informix/NextWebcast.html
59Informix Introduction
Informix Training in 2017• April 10-13, 2017
– Informix for Database Administrators• July 10-13, 2017
– Advanced Informix Performance Tuning• September 18-21, 2017
– Informix for Database Administrators• All courses can be taken online on the web from your
desk or at our training center in Virginia.• We guarantee to NEVER cancel a course and will
teach a course as long as one student is registered!60Informix Introduction
Best Practices Summary
• Install each version of Informix in a separate directory. Use links to change current production version $INFORMIXDIR
root@train6:/opt train6 > ls -ltotal 4
drwxrwxr-x 1 informix informix 448 Oct 14 2015 ifxsdklrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 22 Jan 26 08:55 informix -> /opt/informix12.10.FC6drwxr-xr-x 1 informix informix 384 May 18 2015 informix12.10.FC4drwxr-xr-x 1 informix informix 384 Oct 12 2015 informix12.10.FC5
drwxr-xr-x 1 informix informix 390 Oct 31 14:03 informix12.10.FC6drwxr-xr-x 1 informix informix 844 Jan 25 16:51 informix12.10.FC8
Informix Introduction 61
Best Practices Summary
• Use the INFORMIXSERVER name as part of the:
– ONCONFIG=onconfig.$INFORMIXSERVER– Location of chunks– Location of Backups and Logs
• Use Symbolic links to devices so you can move and change them by changing the link
Informix Introduction 62
Best Practices Summary• Use non journeled filesystems for cooked space• Use Ext2 filesystems for Linux• Create an informixXX.XX.XX.env file for each version
and then use informix.env for the main production one file
• Download the Informix documentation so you have it available when offline
• Future Webcasts - more Best Practices on Configuration, ONCONFIG, CPUs, Memory, Disk and Dbspace Layout, Backup, Recovery and High Availability
Informix Introduction 63
Questions?
Send follow-up questions to [email protected]
65
Informix Support and Training from the Informix Champions!Advanced DataTools is an Advanced Level IBM Informix Data Management Partner, and has been an authorized Informix partner since 1993. We have a long-term relationship with IBM, we have priority access to high-level support staff, technical information, and Beta programs. Our team has been working with Informix since its inception, and includes 8 Senior Informix Database Consultants, 4 IBM Champions, 2 IIUG Director’s Award winners, and an IBM Gold Consultant. We have Informix specialists Lester Knutsen and Art Kagel available to support your Informix performance tuning and monitoring requirements!
•Informix Remote DBA Support Monitoring •Informix Performance Tuning•Informix Training•Informix Consulting •Informix Development
Free Informix Performance Tuning Webcast replays at: http://advancedatatools.com/Informix/Webcasts.html
Call: (800) 807-6732 x101 or Email: [email protected]: http://www.advancedatatools.com
Thank You
Lester KnutsenAdvanced DataTools Corporation
For more information:
http://www.advancedatatools.com